Merigar West, Buddhist temple at Mount Amiata slopes, Arcidosso, Italy
Merigar West is a Buddhist temple on the slopes of Mount Amiata in Arcidosso, centered around an octagonal meditation hall with four entrances facing the cardinal directions. The grounds contain multiple buildings connected by paths, including a welcome center, meditation spaces, and accommodations for longer spiritual stays.
The center was founded in 1981 by Tibetan master Chögyal Namkhai Norbu as the first European Dzogchen Buddhist community. The Temple of Great Contemplation was built later and inaugurated in 1990, featuring three reliquary Stupas designed for meditation practice.
The center draws people seeking Buddhist teachings and Tibetan spiritual practices, creating a community focused on meditation and study. Daily life here revolves around collective practice and learning, welcoming both newcomers and experienced practitioners.
Access moves through pathways connecting different areas of the grounds, allowing visitors to explore the entire layout. It helps to allow time for walking through the site and to find your way along the various paths, as the grounds spread across the hillside.
The site holds a collection of around 12,000 volumes, including rare Tibetan texts brought by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu from his homeland. This library makes it an important place for study and preservation of Tibetan knowledge in Europe.
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